Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is “excited” to get back in front of the home fans as his side look to make it four consecutive wins when Getafe visit the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Ancelotti’s side have picked up maximum points from their opening three matches, which have all been away from home while renovations were carried out at the Bernabeu.
Madrid are the only team in LaLiga to have picked up three wins from three but will face a challenge from Getafe, who have already taken a point off Barcelona this season.
Ancelotti told a press conference: “We’re really excited to be back at the Bernabeu, it looks quite different now.
“It’s important to get back to our stadium in front of our fans after some good performances in the opening three games. We can’t wait to return and pick up the three points.”
“I’m not in the mind of the fans. I am very excited about the season.
“Every single one of us, when the season starts, we are hungry to have an incredible campaign.
“It’s happened many times in the past and could very well happen again this year.”
Madrid will be without their playmaker Vinicius Jr for the clash after he was brought off in the 18th minute of their 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo with a hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old is likely to be missing for several weeks and Ancelotti understands he will be a big miss.
He continued: “Being without Vini Jr means we lose a hugely decisive player for the next few games.
“Our approach won’t change but we’ll replace him with a player who has different attributes, so we’ll try to adapt our attacking movement.”
“We can replace Vinicius with Joselu and Brahim (Diaz). We don’t have to play with three forwards but I might well play with someone coming inside.
Despite losing Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad and Marco Asensio to PSG, Real have reinforced their squad with other options, including Jude Bellingham, who has made a fast start to life in Spain.
The 20-year-old has scored four goals in his opening three matches, becoming the first person to do that in Real Madrid colours since Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Ancelotti thinks the fans will be happy to see Bellingham play in front of the home crowd for the first time.
He added: “The fans will be delighted to see Bellingham play live at our ground. He’s got such a strong personality, he’ll love playing at the Bernabeu.
“I’m very happy with the squad. As I said before, we did all the work we had to do early on and when the season got underway, we were all sorted.
“It’s a competitive squad because we have a mix of quality, strength, energy and experience.
“We’re in good shape, despite having some real problems, which is always the way over the course of the season.
“It’s a good squad and we can replace our injured guys without many issues.”
Sporting CP boss Amorim apologises for holding West Ham talks
Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim has publicly apologised for holding talks with West Ham, who view the 39-year-old as a contender to replace David Moyes at the end of the season.
This week, widespread reports said Amorim had travelled to London for talks with the West Ham hierarchy, as they weigh up their options ahead of Moyes' contract expiring in June.
Moyes delivered the Europa Conference League trophy to the London Stadium last season but has long struggled to win over sections of the Hammers' fanbase, and a poor run of form has seen their hopes of European qualification fade in recent weeks.
Amorim, who led Sporting to the Primeira Liga crown in 2020-21 and looks likely to oversee another title triumph this term, has also been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool in the past.
He was roundly criticised for making the trip to London while still under contract, and on Saturday he admitted the visit was a mistake.
"So, let's get the elephant out of the room and I'll talk about it once," Amorim said in a press conference to preview Sunday's trip to Porto.
"The first thing is to say that the club was aware of my trip. It's important and changes the context.
"Then, let's talk about the 'cloak of secrecy' that surrounded the trip... I 'secretly' parked the car outside, secretly walked past 15 people and took photographs, then got on a plane behind the club's back.
"It didn't happen in secret or without permission. Obviously my trip was a mistake, the timing was completely wrong, it didn't seem right at the time.
"It was wrong, especially when I'm so demanding with my players and always the first to say that each one's actions can overpower the team. I have removed players from the squad for much less.
"It was my mistake, I have to accept it and live with it. It didn't seem so bad at the time but thinking about it later, it's very clear.
"Now it's time to move on. I apologise to the Sporting fans, the staff and, mainly, to my players for the mistake I made."
Wilder laments "complete lack of leadership" as Blades' relegation confirmed
Chris Wilder feels his Sheffield United side's "complete lack of leadership" has been a key factor in their relegation from the Premier League.
The Blades will be playing Championship football next term after a dismal one-season return to the Premier League in which they have won just three of their 35 league outings.
Sheffield United's 25th league defeat of the season confirmed their relegation as they were hammered 5-1 away at Newcastle United on Saturday despite Anel Ahmedhodzic putting them in front at St James' Park.
A drubbing ensued after Alexander Isak's leveller, and the final whistle condemned the Blades to the second tier with three games to spare.
In Wilder's view, the club needs to rectify a lack of on-field guidance if the Blades are to bounce straight back up, embodied by the tough outing at St James' Park.
Wilder told the BBC's Match of the Day. "There are plenty of games where we have been put to bed early but today we should have been 3-0 up at half-time. I'm scratching my head that it was 1-1.
"Newcastle up their game and get a head of steam. Then our old mistakes start to fall in and goals go from two to three to four to five pretty quickly.
"There's a reason why that happens. It's an incredibly young side and there is a complete lack of leadership out there. I thought at times I was going to have a heart attack in terms of trying to get the messages on."
Wilder acknowledged there could be tough times ahead for the club, though he hopes he retains the trust of the fans having been brought in for his second spell as Blades manager midway through the season following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom.
"It's going to be a tough summer for everybody," Wilder continued. "We have not been good enough. The league has been too powerful for us right the way through the season.
"Sheffield United is a really good football club. I think everyone understands that but it's been a really poor season.
"I've still got another year left of my contract. I'd like to think that the supporters can trust me. I'm enthusiastic and committed along with my coaching staff to get it right. We know exactly what direction we need to go, what the culture is going to look like, what pre-season is going to look like."
Huddersfield Town all but relegated from Championship while League Two play-off fate is decided
Huddersfield Town saw their relegation all but confirmed after a 1-1 draw with fellows strugglers Birmingham City.
The Terriers avoided a defeat that would have seen them relegated on Saturday, but even a win on the final day over promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town will not be enough unless they overcome a huge goal difference of 15 goals with Plymouth Argyle.
Birmingham remain in the other relegation place and now must beat Norwich City to stand a chance of staying up with Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Blackburn Rovers also still in danger.
At the other end of the table, the Canaries dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, leaving the door open for Hull City, who face Ipswich Town later today.
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